Method and apparatus for making hood caps



Aug 7, K R. ALLEN METQHD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKINGHOOD CAPS Filed NOV. 24, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HTTRNE Y Aug. 7, 1945. K. R. ALLEN 2,381,851

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING HOOD CAPS Filed Nov.. 24,` 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 7, 1945.. Ku R ALLEN 2,381,851

-METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING HOOD CAPS Filed Nov. 24, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

221mm A12/m mfom/EY Patented Aug. V"I, 1945 METHOD APPARATUS Fon MAKING l noon CAPs Kenneth R. Allen, Ridgewood, N. Y., assignor to American Seal-Kap Corporation of Delaware, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application November 24, 1942, Serial No. 466,730

6 Claims.r4

This invention relates to hood caps for milk bottles or the like and more particularly to'a hood cap having a pleated skirt extending around the outside of the bottle neck and having its folds adhesively secured together.

, An object of the invention is to provide a cap of the above type having novel and improved characteristics.

Another object is to provide a. cap of the above type having pleats which are folded to eiect a maximum sealing area.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved method and apparatus for forming a cap of the above type. Various other objects and advantages will apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthis invention are pointed out more particularly in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself may be better understood by refen'ingv to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a. speciiic embodiment thereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings,

Fis. 1 is a vertical secticn through the upper die embodying the present invention;

, Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the lower die embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through thev upper and lower dies in nnal cap-forming position;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary detail views showing successive positions of the die members;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-V-8 of Fig. 'l showing the shape of the, pleated skirt;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the pressure ring:

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the draw platel body;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the upper forming ring;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the lower forming ring; i

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the formed cap;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation thereof Fig. 15 is a side elevation oi the cap as applied to a bottle; and

'Fig. 16 is an enlarged developed detail view showing the Pleat folds.

In the following description certain specific terms are used for convenience in referring to various details of elinvention. It is to be understood, howeve that these terms are to be given as broad an interpretation as the state of the art will permit.

A tamper-proof, hood cap for milk bottles, in accordance with the present invention, is shown in Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16. This-cap comprises a central diaphragm I0, a pouring lip housing li having a. vertical inner wall I2, a top I3 and a plurality of raised ribs or top corrugations I4 and y a folded or pleated skirt l5, which extends outwardly from the pouring liphousing Il. The skirt l5 is creased along fold lines I6, il and i8 to form flat sections i8 and inclined sections 20 and 2|,4 which are adapted Vto be folded over around the neck 22 of a milk bottle as shown in is Fig. 15. The folds are held in position around the bottle neck by a suitable adhesive which is applied to the outside surface of the skirt. The adhesive is preferably made in the form of a narrow band 23 around the lower edge of the outside of the skirt, although the width of the band may be varied as desired, or the adhesive may be applied to the entire outer surface of the skirt depending upon the required characteristics of the cap. The adhesive is applied to the outer sur- 25 face of the skirt rather than the inner surface inasmuch as this prevents contamination oi the bottle and simplifies the cleaning problem. The cap may be made from a paper blank or from a thin flexible metal such as aluminum foil or other flexible material.

A feature of the present invention resides in arranging the folds so that the entire width of the band 23 is available for sealing purposes.

In order to accomplish this, the fold lines I6, l1 and I8 are so arranged that when the skirt is folded over around the neck of a bottle, as 'shown in Figs. 15 and 16,l with the -sections 20 and 2l inturned to form a concealed pleat 25, the lower edge 24 of the section 2| comes inte exactregis- 40 tration with the lower edge of the underlying section 20, with the corresponding portions of the band 23 of the contacting surfaces also in registration 'I'he concealed fold line or crease i8 extends rearwardly at an angle to the vertical and the bottom: edge 24 of the concealed pleat 25 is displaced upwardly as shown in Fig. 16. However, this does not reduce the area of .contact of the adhesive surfaces inasmuch as the folded-over portion of the adhesive band in the concealed pleat 2E registers with-the underlying portion of the adhesive band on the outer face of the under layer. Under these conditions'it is found that the fold line Il defining the edge of the outer 55 fold', extends substantially vertically when the 1n addition to providing a maximum sealing area, the cap thus formed has a neat and pleasing appearance inasmuch as the lower -edge is substantially uniform around the entire skirt. In fact, the lower edge comprises a series of arcs corresponding in radius to the original blank, although the appearance to the eye approximates a straight line. Hence, the cap may be considered when inv place to have a substantially straight, lower edge.

The die for forming this cap is shown in Figs. v1 to 12. Referring first to Fig. l, the upper die is shown as comprising a support 3| to which a drawplate sleeve holder 3| and an upper forming ring 32 are secured by means of a retaining ring 33. A drawplate sleeve Il as shown in Fig. 10, having a plurality of outwardly extending fins Il, is positioned within the sleeve holder Il and may be secured thereto by suitable means, shown as a set screw 38. The fins 3l register with the corrugations ll-of the caps and are adapted to press out and form suchvcorru'gations.

A pressure ring 4|, which is shown in detail in' Fig. 9 as comprising a body Il and a downwardly extending i'lange 42 provided with vertical slits I3. is mounted for vertical sliding movement around the outside of the drawpiate sleeve 34 with the slots I3 in registration with and'sliding over the fins' 35 of the drawplate sleeve. The pressure ring 40 is held downwardly by a plurality of springs 44 which are mounted in spring sleeves ll Mand are carried on pins It which are secured in the support 30. 'Ihe upper surface 41 of the pressure ring I is adapted to engage against .the lower surface of a lip Il on the sleeve holder Il for limiting the upward movement of the pressure ring.

The upper forming ring I2, as shown in detail in Fig. 11, is provided with a top flange 50 which engages the retaining ring l! for securing the forming ring in place. 'I'he lower surface of the forming ring 32 is provided with fiat, triangular sections and inclined sections 52 and il conforming to the flat section Il and the inclined sections and 2| respectively of the top of the cap skirt.

A drawplate 60 having a fiat lower surface OI conforming to the diaphragm Il of the cap and a vertical peripheral surface $2 conforming to the vertical surface I2 of the pouring lip housing, is.

secured to a drawplate cap 63. I'he drawplate -cap 63 is provided with a flange 6I which bears against a shoulder 65 on the inner surface of the cylindrical drawplate sleeve 34 for limiting the movement thereof.- A coiled spring It, mounted in a recess 61 in the support 3U, bears against the shoulder 64 for holding the drawplate l. in its lower position. The drawplate cap carries a spring 1i bearing against av flange 1l 'on' an ejector pin 12'which extends through the bottom of the drawplate 80 for electing thecap. The flange 10 also limits the outward movement of the ejector pin 12. The forming ring I2 and lthe sleeve holder 3i are held in proper alignment by means of an aligning key 15.

It is to be noted that in the above construction the forming ring I2 and the drawplate sleeve Il, including the fins I5, are rigid with the-support 30. The drawplate 60 is spring mounted for limited movement by means of the spring The pressure' ring 4I is likewise spring mounted by means of the springs M which are comparatively light with respect to the spring The spring 1I, carrying the ejector pin, is a light spring inasmuch as its only purpose is to elect the formed cap from the die.

VIl

Referring now to Fig. 2, the lower die comprises a support Il carryingl a draw ring Il, a lower forming .ring l2, and a spring mounted draw block Il. The draw ring Il conforms to the inner surface of the pouring lip housing il of the cap and is provided with a flange Il which is engaged by a shoulder Il on a retaining ringI It to secure the same to the support Il. I'he lower forming ring l2 is spring mounted by means of a spring 81 carried in sleeves It secured in the under surface of the forming ring l2. 'Ihe lower forming ring I2, as shown in detail in Fig. 12, comprises flat sections it and inclined sections Il and 02 conforming to the undersurface of the sections i., 2| and 20 respectively of the cap skirt. The movement 0f the forming ring I2 is limited lby the flange Il of the draw ring and a shoulder I3 on the retaining ring The draw block I3 is in the form of a hollow cup in which a spring Il is seated and is formed with a shoulder $6 bearing against a cooperating shoulder on the draw ring Il .for limiting the movement of the draw block. The various elements are held in proper alignment by means of an aligning key sl. The retaining ring II is provided with a conical top surface Il which is arranged so as not to interfere with the blank It@ during the forming operation.

`At the beginning of the forming operation the upper and lower dies are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. .The draw block Il and the lower forming ring fl! are held in their upper position with their top surfaces in the same plane as the top surface of the draw ring @l to receive a flat blanki". In the .upper die the drawplate il and the pressure ring 40 are held in their lower position bythe springs '88 and M respectively. As the dies are brought together for forming the cap, they take the successive positions shown in Figs. 4, 5,- 6, 7 and 3 respectively. In'the first position, as shown in Fig. 4, the ejector pini! engages the blank It and is retracted against the pressure of the spring 'il to permit the drawplate to engage the portion of the blank I" which is on the draw block @3.

On further downward movement of the upper die, the drawplate 80 depresses the draw block I3, thus cupping the blank to form the diaphragm i0 and the inner walls i2 of the Pouring lip lhuusing as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. During this part of the drawing operation. the outer diameter of the'blank is reduced as the blank is drawn inwardly'due to the cupping operation. The pressure ring 60 rests lightly upon the pouring-lip housing of the blank on the draw ring 8| and the skirt portion of the cap is loosely held between the upper forming ring 32 and the lower forming'ring 02. f`

lin 4the positions `shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the

pressure ring It maintains flat the portion of the blank extending across the draw ring Il, but permits 'the surplus blankrmaterial to be drawn into the s lpts ,thereby definitely locating the folds. .fifterfthe blank has been completely drawn and the dies are broughtinto their 'final position, as shown'iii Fig. 3, the fins 35 of the drawplate sleeve 3l. strike against the upper surface of the gathered material within the slots I3 to smooth out and form the corrugations il on the pouring lip housing. At the Sametime, the pressure ring 40 is brought up against the flange 4B of `the sleeve holder Il and the lower forming ring `l2 engages the flange Il which. rigidiiles the entire disassembly. The upper and lower formving rings thus strike to form the folds Il, I1

and- Il in the skirt of the cap while the pressure ring Il strikes against the top of the Pouring lip housing'on the draw ring II for smoothing and forming the same.

" It is to be noted that in this operation the blank is first drawn inwardly as it is cupped and the vfolds are initiated in the free space provided by the slots 43 of the pressure ring. The folds are thus guided as they are formed so that the nat-y Vural crease in the paper is used for forming the corrugations I4 as well as for forming the actual. -folds ofthe skirt cap.

. The springs .l and II permit adjustment for variations in depth of the pouring lip housing. Bhimsof varying thickness may beplaced beneath the draw block 83 so as to limit the downward Vmovement thereof. The spring 68 is sufiiciently rigid to permit the drawplate 60 to, accommodate various positions of the draw block while retaining the necessary. pressure in the cap diaphragm. Y

The inner surface of the draw ring may beprovided with a plurality of raised ribs for a feature of the present die resides in the pro` vision of means, such as the grooves 43 in the 'POurins lip housing and an outwardly extending' skirt, said die comprising members for cupping the central portion of a blank forforming said depressed diaphragm portion and drawing'the outer portions of the blank inwardly as the cupping progresses to form radial folds thereon, memy lbers for confining th location of the folds as the blank is drawn inwardly during the cupping operation to definite locations around the periphery of the pouring lip housing portion, members for die- Vforming the folded material on the upper surface oi' the pouring lip housing portion to form a pour# ing lip housing having ribs, members for dieforming fold lines -in the skirt portion to form the skirt, and means actuating said members in the Vorder named. 3. A die for forming a hood milkV bottle cap or the like having a central depressed diaphragm, a pouring lip housing and an outwardly extending skirt, said die comprising upper and lower die pressure ring to guide and locate the folds of I the paper which are produced as the p aper is drawn inwardly due to the cupping operation. The extra thiclmess of paper thus produced in the lpouring lip housing is formedinto the corrugation I4 and the folds in the skirt are shaped by drawing between the upper and lower forming rings and by the subsequent application of pressure thereto by the striking of 'the upper and lower forming rings' at the end of the operation. The cap may include an inner disc, not shown, which may be seated within the cup formed by the diaphragm I0 and the walls I2 and may assist in holding the cap in position on the bottle. Such disc may also be used to carry, the necessary printing for identifying the contents of the bottle. I

lAlthough a specific embodiment of the invention has been set forth for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein -to definite-locations around the periphery of said pouring lip housing portion, forming the pouring lip housing, pressing the folded material to form members having a drawplate and a draw block respectively conforming to said depressed diaphragnL and a pressure ring and a draw ring respectively conforming to the pouring lip housing, means moving said drawplate and draw block downwardly with respect to said draw ring for cupping the blank to form said central depressed diaphragm, means holding said pressure ring in loose pressure engagement with said draw'ring during the cupping operation, said pressure ring having a plurality of spaced slots therein to re ceive and locate the folds of the blank material the skirt portion is drawn inwardly during the cupping operation, a plurality of ilns slidably disposed in said slots andmeans bringing said fins into pressure engagement with the material in said slots for compacting the same to form ribs on said pouring lip housing.

4. A die for forming a hood milkbottle cap or the like having a central depressed diaphragm, a pouring lip housing and an outwardly extending skirt, said diecomprising upper and lower die members having a drawplate and a draw block respectively conforming to said depressed diaphragm, and a pressure ring and a draw ring respectively conforming to the pouring lip housing, means moving said drawplate and draw block as the skirt portion is drawn inwardly during the cupping operation, a plurality of fins slidably disposed in said slots and means bringing said fins into pressure engagement-with the material in said slots for compacting the same to form ribs on said pouring lip housing, and means bringing ing skirt, said die comprising upper and lower die members'having a drawplate and a draw block respectively conforming to said depressed diacomigations on the top of said pouring lip hous- 7 Phrasm. and a pressure ring and a draw rins respectively conforming to the pouring lip housing, means moving said drawplate and` draw block downwardly with respect to said draw ring for cupping the blank to form said central depressed diaphragm. means holding'said pressure ring in loose pressure engagement with said draw ring during the cupping operationfsaid'pressure ring having a plurality of. spaced slots therein to receive and locate the folds o! the blank material for guiding the folds as the blank is drawn inwardly during the eupping operation and means bringing said forming rings into pressure engagement with the skirt portion for forming the crease folds in said skirt.

s., A die for forming a milk bottle cap havingl a central depressedV diaphragm, a pouring lip housing, and an outwardly extending skirt, said die comprising a support, a forming ring conforming to the shape of the cap skirt rigidly secured to said support, a drawplate conforming to said central depressed diaphragm, spring means securing said drawplate to said support for relative ver tical movement, a pressure ring disposed between said drawplate and said forming ring and conforming to the top of said pouring lip housing, resilient means mounted on said pressure ring for s limited vertical movement. a plurality of vertical slots in said pressurering adapted to permit the blank material to be drawn therethrough 85 the blank is cupped, a sleeve rigidly secured in said support and having fins extending through said slots, and means 'responsive to downward movement of said support to tirst depress said draw plate to cup said blankand form saiddevressed diaphragm portion oi the cap while holding said pressure ring under light pressure on said pauring lip housing with said iins in elevated positi'qn,

Y and then to hold said pressure ring, fins and forming ring rigid with said support to apply high firming pressure to said pouring lip housing and s rt.

KENNETH R. ALLEN. t 

